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Saturday, June 29, 2013

A Flight of Twelve Soutern Hemisphere Birds

I could not resist (nor did I try to resist) sharing with you this series of ten instagram photos from my Thursday out at Redwood Prints. It was such a delight to spend the day at Bernie's side. His lithographic offset proofing press and he are one and the same. He has 72 years of printing experience; a real master craftsman, and ink runs through his veins. He tells me how the ink should sound on the rollers, of the 'hiss' they make.

Little compares to the thrill of seeing your work printed. Such a quiet excitement. Each of the plates came up just as I had hoped. They look soft like the original pencil drawings. Soft and tonal. You can see all the details in the various beaks and wings and eyes.

I am currently getting ready to colour the day's printing. An edition of ten artists' books will be made from this day on the factory floor. With twelve birds in each of the ten books, in the next few months I have 120 birds to hand-colour. I am especially looking forward to colouring the tern with his bright orange beak. Think that is where I'll start.

Thank-you, Bernie, for the day on the press. And to Stella, too, for minding old Percy on your lap and spoiling him. And thank-you G, as well, for capturing the day with device in hand.

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A Flight of Twelve Soutern Hemisphere Birds

I could not resist (nor did I try to resist) sharing with you this series of ten instagram photos from my Thursday out at Redwood Prints. It was such a delight to spend the day at Bernie's side. His lithographic offset proofing press and he are one and the same. He has 72 years of printing experience; a real master craftsman, and ink runs through his veins. He tells me how the ink should sound on the rollers, of the 'hiss' they make.

Little compares to the thrill of seeing your work printed. Such a quiet excitement. Each of the plates came up just as I had hoped. They look soft like the original pencil drawings. Soft and tonal. You can see all the details in the various beaks and wings and eyes.

I am currently getting ready to colour the day's printing. An edition of ten artists' books will be made from this day on the factory floor. With twelve birds in each of the ten books, in the next few months I have 120 birds to hand-colour. I am especially looking forward to colouring the tern with his bright orange beak. Think that is where I'll start.

Thank-you, Bernie, for the day on the press. And to Stella, too, for minding old Percy on your lap and spoiling him. And thank-you G, as well, for capturing the day with device in hand.